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  1. FAQs

Useful Definitions

Direct Provision

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The system for accommodating people in the asylum process in Ireland. People are accommodated in communal accommodation centres which are run on a for-profit basis by private contractors. The centres provide food, board and for people’s basic needs. In addition to bed and board people receive a weekly cash allowance of €38.80 per adult and €29.80  per child and a medical card. While in this process people are not entitled to usual social welfare payments, although they may apply for an exceptional needs payment from the local Community Welfare Officer. The weekly allowances and exceptional payments are awarded on a discretionary basis by the Department of Social Protection.

Published: 1st April, 2020

Updated: 20th September, 2023

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Dublin III

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The Dublin III Regulation (Regulation (EU) No. 604/2013) establishes a system for determining and identifying the Member State in Europe responsible for the examination of an individual’s asylum application. It sets out a hierarchy of criteria for determining the responsible Member State including factors such as:

  • the presence of family members in particular States
  • the issuing of visas and residence documents
  • and the travel route of a person into Europe

For more information on the impact of the Dublin III Regulation read the Dublin Transnational Network Project ‘Dublin II Regulation: Lives on Hold ‘ report 

Download Report

ECRE Publications:

The Dublin system in 2017: Overview of developments from selected European countries
The Road Out of Dublin: Reform of the Dublin Regulation
Beyond Solidarity: Rights and Reform of Dublin

Published: 3rd April, 2020

Updated: 20th September, 2023

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EU Relocation Programme

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This is a scheme whereby EU members states, including Ireland, were asked to demonstrate solidarity with Greece and Italy by agreeing to relocate a number of people from camps in Greece and Italy to have their applications for asylum processed in their country.

Published: 3rd April, 2020

Updated: 20th September, 2023

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EU Resettlement Programme

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This is a scheme whereby EU members states were asked to commit to offer resettlement to their country for programme refugees from places like the Lebanon and Jordan. The people brought to Ireland under this scheme are already recognised as refugees and have been processed by UNHCR before their arrival. Ireland has a long history of accepting resettled refugees under Resettlement Programmes.

Published: 4th April, 2020

Updated: 20th September, 2023

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Family Reunification

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People with refugee status or subsidiary protection have the right to apply for certain family members to join them in Ireland.

Read more about family reunification.

Published: 5th April, 2020

Updated: 20th September, 2023

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International Protection Appeals Tribunal (formerly the Refugee Appeals Tribunal)

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The Tribunal decides appeals of people whose application for international protection status has not been granted by the International Protection Office. The Tribunal also determines appeals under the Dublin System Regulations.

Published: 6th April, 2020

Updated: 20th September, 2023

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International Protection Office (formerly the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner – ORAC)

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The International Protection Office (IPO) is the office responsible for processing and deciding applications for international protection under the International Protection Act 2015. It also considers, as part of a single procedure process, whether applicants should be given permission to remain.

Published: 7th April, 2020

Updated: 20th September, 2023

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Separated Children / Unaccompanied Children

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Children under 18 years of age, who are outside their country of origin, and separated from both parents and their previous/legal customary primary caregiver. Young people who fall into this category are under the care of the Health Service Executive (Tusla) in Ireland.

All children that have been given refugee status are entitled to the same rights as Irish children including the same access to education.

Children who are waiting for a decision on their protection application can attend primary and secondary school, but they are not entitled to free fees for college and must pay non-EU fees which they usually cannot afford. Remember, people seeking protection receive only €29.80 for children and €38.80 for adults. This must cover any additional expenses a person may have. It would take a long time to save enough for college fees.

When an unaccompanied child turns 18 and their application for protection is still pending they are moved from the care of the state into the Direct Provision system and become known as an “aged out minor”. Visit our policy page on Children and Young People to read more. 

Published: 10th April, 2020

Updated: 19th September, 2023

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Different Types of Statuses

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After applying for international protection, people can receive any of the following:

Refugee Status is granted when an international protection applicant receives a positive decision based on the Refugee Convention definition of a refugee. However, there are other people who receive refugee status before coming to Ireland. They are known as resettled refugees or programme refugees and would have been processed by UNHCR from places like Lebanon and Jordan. Along with many other countries in the world, Ireland has a long history of accepting resettled refugees under Resettlement Programmes.

Subsidiary Protection is granted when a person applies for international protection and their reasons for seeking protection do not meet the criteria of a refugee as defined in the Refugee Convention, but there are grounds for believing that they would face a real risk of suffering serious harm if returned to their country of origin. 

Permission to remain is another status granted to protection applicants in Ireland who fall out of the criteria for refugee status or subsidiary protection but cannot be returned for humanitarian or other compelling grounds. This may include medical grounds, family connections in Ireland, length of time, work, and education in Ireland. This is at the discretion of the Minister for Justice.  People with permission to remain can live and work in the country, but cannot apply for family reunification. 

Temporary Protection is another type recently used by European states to provide protection to Ukrainians after Russia invaded Ukraine.

NB: The conditions attached to each status can vary considerably.

Published: 11th April, 2020

Updated: 19th September, 2023

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